| Unit name | Research Skills for Medievalists |
|---|---|
| Unit code | AFACM1001 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Cathy Hume |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | Arts Faculty Office |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit is designed to introduce postgraduate students working in medieval areas to a range of the skills they will need to use both during their MA studies, for optional units and dissertations, and beyond. Students will learn how to work with primary medieval sources. The course will place a strong emphasis on palaeography (how to read and describe medieval handwriting), and will cover bibliographical research skills for medievalists and how to handle and describe manuscripts. Students will also be introduced to the following specialist skills, drawing on the expertise of Centre for Medieval Studies staff: diplomatic (working with charters), textual editing, and describing medieval buildings. These may be supplemented by additional methodologies and disciplinary areas depending on student needs and staff availability. One or more field trip to a medieval collection, archive or building will allow students to apply these skills outside the classroom.
The unit will be taught by staff from different disciplines, which will introduce students to different disciplinary methodologies and approaches. Students will be introduced to new methodologies and will be given opportunities to practise them during seminars and through preparatory tasks to be completed outside class. Exposure to a range of different medieval sources, such as different kinds of manuscript material and buildings, will train students to 'read' what they are looking at.
On successful completion of this unit students will:
Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including instruction from tutors, discussions, and practice in skills.
Summative Assessments:
1 x Transcription or description of a medieval manuscript, of up to 1,500 words (ILOs 1-2).
1 x Essay, of up to 3,000 words (ILOs 3-5).
Both assessments are pass/fail.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. AFACM1001).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
